Ken Forrester The FMC Chenin Blanc 2025
Bright gold with a subtle green core. Powerful, complex nose of ripe apricot, baked quince, beeswax, honey, vanilla and crème brûlée from extended barrel work, lifted by leesy texture and a hint of dried fynbos. Full-bodied with a creamy, opulent mid-palate, focused mineral acidity holding it taut, and a long, layered finish. A serious Cape Chenin built for grand dishes — roast pork, lobster, coq au vin or aged Comté — and equally for the cellar (10+ years).
Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc 2025
Bright straw with green-gold highlights. Lifted nose of ripe pear, baked apple, white peach and honeysuckle, backed by leesy, creamy texture and subtle vanilla-spice from oak. Medium- to full-bodied palate with characteristic Cape Chenin acidity, a chalky-mineral mid-palate and a long, satisfying finish. Excellent with roast chicken, creamy risottos, mature cheeses or grilled white fish.
Natte Valleij Axle Chenin Blanc 2025
Lievlander Chenin Blanc 2023
Pale straw with green-gold reflections. Open, fresh nose of crisp green apple, pear, white peach and lemon pith with a subtle honeysuckle lift. Medium-bodied with bright citric acidity, a clean fruit core and a dry, refreshing finish. The perfect all-rounder — equally at home as an aperitif, with seafood or alongside farm-to-table cooking.
Iona Elgin Highlands Sauvignon Blanc 2025
Iona Elgin Highlands Sauvignon Blanc 2024 has a beautiful purity of limes and ripe gooseberry, with tropical, floral and fine herbal notes, ruby grapefruit and white pear drop on the finish. This is cool climate Sauvignon Blanc – vibrant, mineral, elegant, balanced and delicate, with a long, layered and complex finish.
Tim Atkin South Africa Report 2024 91 Points
Iona's spectacularly sited parcels are some of the highest and most dramatic in Elgin, producing a quintessential cool climate Sauvignon Blanc. Perfumed, salty and stony, this has layers of lime and grapefruit, a touch of vanilla and a briney finish. 2024-27
Donkiesbaai Steen 2025
The Donkiesbaai Steen 2023 has a beautiful complexity of aromas reveal themselves on the nose: candied lemon peel, pineapple, honeysuckle, beeswax, cream and shortbread. On the palate, lively acidity carries the fruit, with texture and layers of flavour expanding on the palate. A clean yet mouthwatering finish.
The Steen is made up of three components: 75% is fermented and then matured in a combination of new and seasoned 500l French oak
barrels. 15% is fermented spontaneously and matured on the lees in concrete eggs. Bâtonnage is done monthly for textural mouthfeel.
DWWA Silver
Kaapzicht Kliprug Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2023
Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Vermentino di Bolgheri 2024
Pale straw with green reflections. Open, sea-breezy nose of fresh lemon zest, white peach, green apple and Mediterranean herbs, with a touch of salinity over a chalky-mineral spine. Medium-bodied with crisp citric acidity, saline mouthfeel and a clean, lingering finish of grapefruit pith. Excellent with seafood, antipasti and grilled white fish.
Ximénez-Spínola Fermentación Lenta 2018
Bright pale gold. Lifted nose of preserved lemon, quince, dried apricot, beeswax and toasted almond, with notes of fennel, chamomile, salted caramel and a subtle vanilla and toasted-oak frame. Full-bodied and textured on the palate, with concentrated stone-fruit intensity, a vivid saline mineral spine, fine phenolic grip and a long, savoury, slightly nutty finish. Drink now to 2030.
Rabl Käferberg Reserve Grüner Veltliner 2023
Pale lemon-gold with green reflections. The nose offers intense white pepper — Grüner's signature 'pfefferl' — alongside white peach, ripe pear, lime zest, fennel and a stony, smoky minerality from the rocky Käferberg soils. Full-bodied and dense on the palate, with vivid acidity, layered orchard and stone fruit, fine phenolic grip and a long, peppery, mineral finish. Drink now to 2030.
Cà dei Frati I Frati Lugana 2024
Ca’ dei Frati’s I Frati Lugana is a vibrant and expressive white wine made from 100% Turbiana, a local grape closely linked to Verdicchio. It opens with bright, refreshing aromas of lemon, citrus zest, green apple, and subtle white flowers. These lifted notes are balanced by gentle herbal hints and a touch of stone fruit, giving the wine both freshness and aromatic depth.
On the palate, I Frati is crisp and lively, driven by clean acidity and a dry, mineral‑focused structure. Flavours of lemon, peach, grapefruit, and green apple unfold with clarity, supported by a delicate floral lift. The wine is light‑bodied yet flavourful, offering a precise, refreshing profile that makes it exceptionally drinkable.
The finish is long, zesty, and subtly saline, echoing the influence of Lake Garda’s cooling breezes and mineral‑rich soils. This combination of purity, energy, and finesse makes I Frati a versatile companion for seafood, salads, light meats, and aperitif moments. It’s a benchmark Lugana—fresh, elegant, and consistently reliable.
Nivarius La Nevera Rioja Blanco 2019
The 2019 Nivarius Finca La Nevera is a refreshing, high-altitude Rioja white (Maturana Blanca) from Nalda, showing intense aromas of pear, apple, quince, and white flowers. It features a creamy yet structured texture with high acidity, subtle nutty notes, and a long, savory mineral finish.
Key Tasting Notes
Aroma: Intense and fresh, featuring ripe apple, pear, white blossom, and hints of lemon rind.
Palate: Medium-bodied with a creamy, textured mouthfeel from lees aging, balanced by high acidity and mineral, slightly balsamic undertones.
Finish: Long, crisp, and slightly nutty, with notes of yogurt or fine lees.
Varietal & Vineyard: Made primarily from the rare native grape Maturana Blanca, grown at 800 meters, which contributes to its aromatic intensity and natural freshness.
Pairing & Service
Best served between 8-10°C, this wine pairs well with baked fish, seafood, roasted white meats, and creamy rice dishes.
